Don Pollack BIOGRAPHY
Don Pollack is a Painter and Adjunct Associate Professor of Visual Communication at theSchool of t he Art Institute of Chicago. His work investigates among other things, the relationship between personal mythologies and representation in painting and how it may simultaneously give reference to a narrative.Working in cross disciplines has influenced his perspectives as projects begin with an epic adventure. Conceptually proceeding from the
premise that all vision is historic and constructed, Pollack’s research starts with the planning of a long distance trek,– such as a 3000 mile journey via bicycle following Lewis and Clark. His work has utilized maps, documents, photography, painting, and installation.This work was routed in a previous investigation into the role of museums in the process of forming collective memory.
Don studied design at the University of Illinois and painting at the Ohio State University where he received his MFA.The state of Illinois has recognized his history based work with a special bicentennial edition of the ‘Order of Abraham Lincoln’ award. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and has shown many solo shows in, Chicago, NewYork, Atlanta, and Canada.
Don Pollack
EDUCATION
m.f.a. Ohio State University Columbus,Ohio
b.f.a. University of Illinois Urbana, Illinois
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 Bridgeport Art Center, this land is not empty, Chicago, Illinois
Carnegie Museum for Art and History, bernheim arboretum, New Albany, Indiana
2013 Perimeter Gallery, 34 days to washington, Chicago, Illinois
2011 Newzones Gallery, far from home, Calgary,Alberta, canada
MarciaWood Gallery, far from home, Atlanta,Georgia
2010 Perimeter Gallery, mysterious island, Chicago, Illinois
Marquette University Law Library, laying the foundation [a Lincoln Portrait], Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
2009 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the lincoln project, Springfield, Illinois
The Union League Club, the lincoln project, Chicago, Illinois
2007 Newzones Gallery, the sheltering sky, Calgary,Alberta, canada
Merwin andWakeley Galleries, IllinoisWesleyan University, american inheritance,
Bloomington, Illinois
MarciaWood Gallery, night, Atlanta,Georgia
2006 MargaretThatcher Projects, american gothic, past imperfect, NewYork,NewYork
Perimeter Gallery, improvisation, Chicago, Illinois
2005 Newzones Gallery, missives, Calgary,Alberta, canada
MarciaWood Gallery, south of the tennessee, remains of the campaign, Atlanta,
Georgia
2004 Perimeter Gallery, voyages of discovery, from the earth to the moon, NewYork,
NewYork
2003 Newzones Gallery, garden of forking paths, Calgary,Alberta, canada
Perimeter Gallery, a search for heroes, lincoln & the illinois landscape,
Chicago, Illinois
2002 Perimeter Gallery, ancien regime, NewYork,NewYork
MarciaWood Gallery, ancien regime, Atlanta,Georgia
2001 Newzones Gallery, ancien regime, Calgary,Alberta, canada
2000 Perimeter Gallery, between heaven and earth, Chicago, Illinois
Newzones Gallery, preview, Calgary,Alberta, canada
1999 Newzones Gallery, north american inheritance, Calgary,Alberta, canada
MarciaWood Gallery, american inheritance, Atlanta,Georgia
1998 MarciaWood Gallery, entering the circle, Atlanta,Georgia
1997 Newzones Gallery, crossing the next meridian, Calgary,Alberta, canada
1996 Peter Miller Gallery, landscape and memory, Chicago, Illinois
MarciaWood Gallery, mythopoeia, an american portrait, Atlanta,Georgia
1995 Elliot Smith Gallery, St.Louis,Missouri
Marx-Saunders Gallery, International Art Exposition, Chicago, Illinois
1994 Deson-Saunders Gallery, shadowlands, Chicago, Illinois
1993 Monte Clark Gallery, Vancouver,British Columbia, canada
Bess Cutler Gallery, NewYork,NewYork
1992 Deson-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1991 Bess Cutler Gallery, NewYork,NewYork
Deson-Saunders Gallery, between earth and sky, Chicago, Illinois
1989 Deson-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1988 Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
1987 Houghton College, Houghton,NewYork
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015 architectural biennial, Brininstool and Lynch, Chicago, Illinois
2014 black and white, Perimeter Gallery- Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2012 art miami , Perimeter Gallery- Chicago, Miami, Florida
Group Show, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2011 art chicago, The Merchandise Mart, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Group Show,Kenise Barnes Gallery, Larchemont,NewYork
2010 pull, MarciaWood Gallery, Atlanta,Georgia
memory is a metaphor, Kenise Barnes Gallery, Larchmont,NewYork
our kind of town, Rena Sternberg Gallery, Glencoe, Illinois
2009 nature satisfies by its loveliness, Kenise Barnes Gallery, Larchmont,NewYork
the exquisite corpse, Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
the big picture show, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
2008 this just in, MarciaWood Gallery, Atlanta Georgia
portraying lincoln, Madden Arts Center, Decatur, Illinois
contemporary art institute of detroit, Curator’s Choice, Detroit,Michigan
art chicago, The Merchandise Mart, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2007 artwork 5, Gallery 2,Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
artscapes, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville,Tennessee
atlanta gallery association preview, rep: MarciaWood Gallery, Eatonton,Georgia
out of the garden, Rena Sternberg Gallery, Glencoe, Illinois
art chicago, The Merchandise Mart, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2006 states of seige, Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island, Kingston,Rhode Island
landscape x10, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
pulse, MargaretThatcher Projects, NewYork,NewYork
2005 summer sensation, Thatcher Projects, NewYork,NewYork
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
landscape x9, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
2004 Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
landscape x9, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
2003 landscape x9, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
San Francisco Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
contemporary landscape, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
deck the walls, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
2002 landscape x9, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
San Francisco Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
2001 departure: american contemporary landscape, Indiana University Northwest
Gary, Indiana
Rena Sternberg Gallery, Glencoe, Illinois
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Perimeter Chicago, Illinois
Miami Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
2000 landscape x8, Newzones Gallery, Calgary,Alberta, canada
San Francisco Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Perimeter Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1999 requiem, Nexus Contemporary Art Center Atlanta,Georgia
family album, MarciaWood Gallery Atlanta,Georgia
1998 the nature of landscape, South Bend Regional Museum of Art South Bend, Indiana
cornucopia, Winston-Wachter Gallery NewYork,NewYork
paradise and its transformations, Georgia State University, School of Art & Design
Gallery Atlanta,Georgia
landscape x six, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
land, air, & sea, Elliot Smith Gallery St.Louis,Missouri
1997 Marguerite Oestricher Gallery New Orleans, Louisiana
MarciaWood Gallery Atlanta,Georgia
Peter Miller Gallery Chicago, Illinois
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Peter Miller Gallery Chicago, Illinois
Seattle International Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
1996 Center for the Arts Calgary,Alberta, canada
Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Peter Miller Gallery Chicago, Illinois
Seattle International Art Exposition, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
introductions, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
Peter Miller Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1995 contemporary realists, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
the nature of landscape, Fontbonne College St. Louis,Missouri
first in flight, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
MarciaWood Gallery Atlanta,Georgia
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1994 contemporary realists, Newzones Gallery of Contemporary Art Calgary,Alberta, canada
Monte Clark Gallery Vancouver,British Columbia, canada
10th anniversary group exhibition, Elliot Smith Gallery St.Louis,Missouri
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1993 Robert Berman Gallery Santa Monica, California
the dreamer awakes, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
west art and the law, traveling exhibition, John B. HynesVeterans Memorial Convention
Center Boston,Massachusetts/ Kennedy Gallery NewYork,NewYork/ Loyola Law School
Los Angeles, California/ James R.Thompson Center Chicago, Illinois/ Minnesota Museum of
Art St. Paul,Minnesota
pacific, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
finesse, Skokie Public Library Skokie, Illinois
skillfully, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1992 Bess Cutler Gallery NewYork,NewYork
Robert Berman Gallery Santa Monica, California
finesse, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
land of 100 dancers, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1991 chicago art today, Gallery of Contemporary Art University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado
west art and the law traveling exhibition,American Association of Law Libraries New Orleans,
Louisiana/ NewVisions Gallery of Contemporary Art Atlanta,Georgia/ Minnesota
Museum of Art St. Paul,Minnesota/ Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art,
Marquette University, Milwaukee,Wisconsin
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1990 Nature/nature, Gallery 400, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
on nature, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
spirits in the material world, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
Los Angeles Art Exposition, Bess Cutler Gallery Los Angeles, California
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1989 the unconventional landscape, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan,Wisconsin
elements of style, history of the dividing line, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago,
Illinois
west art and the law traveling exhibition, Bally’s Casino Reno,Nevada/ Arkansas State
University Museum Jonesboro,Arkansas/ Robert Kahn Gallery Houston,Texas/ Minnesota
Museum of Art St. Paul,Minnesota
International Art Exposition:Chicago, Deson-Saunders Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1988 chicago now! , Arts Center South Bend, Indiana
a european celebration, Limelight Building Chicago, Illinois
1987 new works, Objects Gallery Chicago, Illinois
illinois 87, small painting exhibition, Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
Objects Gallery Chicago, Illinois
1986 works, Dittmar Gallery Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
RuthVolid Gallery Chicago, Illinois
national first annual wildlife and landscape exhibition, GalleryTriangle
Washington,D.C.
1985 75th annual columbus exhibition, Columbus Museum of Art Columbus,Ohio
1984 shreveport national exhibition, Meadows Museum of Art Shreveport, Louisiana
1982 mid america biennial, Owensboro Museum of Fine Art Owensboro,Kentucky
SELECTED AWARDS
2017 enrichment grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2016 enrichment grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2015 sabbatical grant, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois
2014 bernheim arboretum, artist residency, Louisville,Kentucky
2012 illinois institute of art, faculty of the year award, Chicago, Illinois
2010 marquette university law library, commission award, Milwaukee,Wisconsin
sabbatical grant, Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois
2009 order of lincoln, bicentennial edition, State of Illinois award, Springfield, Illinois
school of the art institute of chicago, faculty enrichment grant, Chicago, Illinois
illinois institute of art, faculty enrichment grant, Chicago, Illinois
2008 abraham lincoln presidential library and museum, grant, Springfield, Illinois
2003 philbrook museum of art, museum purchase Tulsa,Oklahoma
2002 illinois arts council fellowship, grant, State of Illinois Springfield, Illinois
1993,‘91,‘89 west art and the law, purchase West Publishing St. Paul,Minnesota
1983 ford foundation grant, Ohio State University Columbus,Ohio
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa,Oklahoma
Racine Museum of Art, Racine,Wisconsin
Marquette University Law Library, Milwaukee,Wisconsin
Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut
Union League Club, Chicago, Illinois
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, Illinois
Vedder, Price, & Kammholz, Chicago, Illinois
Fidelity, Charlotte,North Carolina
Republican Governors Association, Washington,D.C.
Allston & Bird, Washington,D.C.
Corboy, Demetrio, and Clifford, Chicago, Illinois
Poco Petroleum, Calgary,Alberta, Canada
Burnett, Duckworth, and Palmer, Calgary,Alberta, Canada
Evans, Martin, andWilson, Calgary,Alberta, Canada
Metropolitian Life Insurance Company, NewYork,NewYork
AmericanTelephone andTelegraph Company, Chicago, Illinois
Prudential Insurance Company, Newark,New Jersey
Arthur Anderson and Company, Minneapolis,Minnesota
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Company, Chicago, Illinois
G.D. Searle Company, Westchester,NewYork
Schiff, Gorman, and Krkljes, NewYork,NewYork
Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois
University of Illinois, Illini Union, Urbana, Illinois
Jupiter Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
Atlantic Richfield Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenna Esarey, bernheim art on display at carnegie center, Courier-Journal, February 6, 2016
LaurenViera, “don pollack, mysterious island, ChicagoTribune, March 5, 2010
Jason Mojica, “don pollack: improvisation”,Time Out Chicago, February 2-9, 2006
Edward Gomez, “reimagining the landscape”,Art and Antiques,Atlanta, Georgia, October, 2003
Alan Artner, “Don Pollack”, ChicagoTribune, March 21, 2003
Anne Severson, “in the wilderness of our mind”, Fast Forward, Calgary,Alberta, Canada,
December 2-8, 1999
Richard Rhodes, ed., “fast forward:a canada-wide guide to the season’s best exhibitions”,Canadian Art,
Vol. 16, No. 3, , Fall/September 1999
Shelley Boettcher, “Critic’s Pick”, Calgary Herald, Gallery Guide, Calgary ,Alberta, Canada, November 18, 1999
Catherine Fox, “a convergence of landscapes”, Atlanta Constitution, October 8, 1999
Lisa A. Rundquist, “remembering beauty: the seductive & nostalgic nature of ameri -
can landscape”, (Catalogue), South Bend Regional Art Museum, South Bend,
Indiana, August 8-October 4, 1998
Garrett Holg, “chicago: don pollack”,Art News, January 1997
Barbara Buchholz, “don pollack”, ChicagoTribune, November 8, 1996
Jerry Cullum, “old west, new myths”,Atlanta Constitution, August 23, 1996
MarciaWood Gallery, “mythopoeia, an american portrait”, (Catalogue),Atlanta, Georgia July
27-August 24, 1996
Alexandra Bellos, “symbol pleasures”, St. Louis River FrontTimes, March 22, 1995
Debra Riley Parr, “in review, don pollack”, St Louis Post Dispatch, March 9, 1995
Malcolm Parry, column,Vancouver Sun,Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, November 20,1993
Alan Artner, “don pollack”, ChicagoTribune, April 19, 1992
Alan Artner, “comfortable viewing”, ChicagoTribune, February 7, 1991
Alan Artner, “don pollack”, ChicagoTribune, July 7, 1989
Jacqueline Hall, “league gathers forceful raw works for exhibition”, Columbus,
Dispatch, June 9, 1985
Jacqueline Hall, “arcadia inspires local artists”, Columbus Dispatch, July 14, 1985
PUBLICATIONS
2013 34 days to washington, Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, catalog
2012 Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, catalog
2010 art chicago international exposition, Mart Center, Chicago, Illinois, catalog
marquette law review, vol. 93, number 4, Marquette University, Milwaukee,Wisconsin,
catalog
2009 the lincoln project,Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield, Illinois,
catalog
design school confidential, Extraordinary Class Projects from International Design Schools,
Steven Heller & LitaTalarico, Rockport Publishers, Beverly Massachusetts, (selections featured
from AdvancedTypography course, School of the Art Institute of Chicago)
2003 a search for heroes, lincoln & the illinois landscape, Perimeter Gallery,
Chicago, Illinois, catalog
1996 remembering beauty: the seductive & nostalgic nature of american landscape,
South Bend Regional Art Museum, South Bend, catalog
mythopoeia, an american portrait, MarciaWood Gallery,Atlanta, Georgia catalog
1995 art chicago international exposition, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, catalog
1994 private arts, nos.8&9, Chicago, Illinois, Art Consultant, magazine
1993,‘91,‘89 west art and the law,West Publishing Co., St.Paul Minnesota, catalog, traveling exhibition
1992 art chicago international exposition, Navy Pier., Chicago, Illinois, catalog
1991 10 th anniversery auction, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, Illinois, catalog
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
school of the art institute of chicago, Chicago, Illinois, Adjunct Associate Professor, September 2005-
present, courses: Image Studio,AdvancedTypography and Introduction toVisual
Communications
illinois institute of art, Chicago, Illinois, Professor, January 1995-present, courses: 2-D, and 3-D
Foundation Design, Color,Typography, Corporate Identity, and Portfolio
ray college of design, Chicago, Illinois, January 1986-January 1995, courses: 2-D, and 3-D Foundation
Design, Color,Typography, Corporate Identity, and Portfolio
ohio state university, Department of Art, Columbus, Ohio, January 1983- June 1984, courses: Art
290 & 190, Drawing, painting, 2-D, 3-D design, color, creative process
ohio state university, Department of Art, Columbus, Ohio, GraduateTeaching Associate, September
1982 January 1983, assisted and taught, 2-D Design,Drawing
TUTORIALS
drawing & problems of representation, North Shore Art League,Winnetka, Illinois, January
1986-April 1986
19th century hudson river school perspectives- drawing and painting, Columbus, Ohio, June 1985-
August 1985
LECTURES
MLKYouth Leadership Day, Elgin Center, Elgin, Illinois,“crossing the great divide,– standing
rock”, January 16, 2017
Northwestern University, Slivka College, Evanston, Illinois,“crossing the great divide”,
February 1, 2016
Bronx, City College of NewYork, Bronx, NewYork, “crossing the great divide”, December 10, 2015
Fluid, Society for Literature, Science, & Art Conference, Southern Methodist University, Dallas,Texas
“crossing the great divide, trying to understand the collage
of my landscape”, October 9, 2014 - October 12, 2014
Postnatural, Society for Literature, Science, & Art Conference, Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana
“34 days to washington”, October 3, 2013 - October 6, 2013
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “34 days to washington”, April 25,May 14,& 17, 2013
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “mysterious island”, March 5, 2010
Union League Club, Chicago, Illinois, the lincoln project, June 17, 2009
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield, Illinois, the lincoln project,
February 6, 2009
Merwin andWakeley Galleries, IllinoisWesleyan University, Bloomington, Illinois, american
inheritance, November, 13, 2007
University ofWisconsin,Eau Claire, cross cultural perspective of visual communication,
presentation topic: Native America:Truth and Imagery”, April 20-21, 2007
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “improvisation”, February 2, 2006
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “a search for heroes, lincoln and the illinois
landscape”, March 29,& April 3, 2003
Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, “between heaven and earth”, December 7, 2000
Newberry Library, Map Society, Chicago, Illinois, tlon, uqbar, orbis tertius: taking measure
across chicago, March 18, 1999
Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois, Faculty TrainingWorkshop, teaching strategies, July 10, 1997
Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago, Illinois, Quantitative Mathematics course, March 11, 1997
Peter Miller Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, landscape and memory, October 11 & 18, 1996
MarciaWood Gallery,Atlanta, Georgia, mythopoeia, an american portrait, August 1, 1996
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, Advanced Painting course, February 22, 1994
Deson-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, October 21, 1993
Deson-Saunders Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, April 16 & 18, 1992
Objects Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, April 19, 1988
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Art 190, native & american topics, April 16 & 18, 1984
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, CS 102, Religious Themes in Literature, native & american
topics, November 22, 1983
INTERVIEWS
MLKYouth Leadership Day, Elgin Center, JanelleWalker,“crossing the great divide,–
standing rock”, January 16, 2017
FNews SAIC Magazine, by Sophie Lucido Johnson, standing ground at standing rock,
January 18, 2017
ChicagoTribune, by Heidi Stevens, artist assist standing rock, January 3, 2017
KYW News Radio 1060, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, taking measure across america, August 9, 2010
Fox/NBC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, taking measure across america, August 9, 2010
WGRZ NBC Buffalo, NewYork, taking measure across america, July 28, 2010
WTTW, Chicago, Illinois, arts across illinois, looking for lincoln, June 19 & 21, 2009
WFLD-Fox News Chicago, Springfield, Illinois, the lincoln project, February 12, 2009
WAND-NBC News Decatur, Springfield, Illinois, lincoln project, February 8, 2009
WCIA-CBS News Champaign, Springfield, Illinois, lincoln project, February 7, 2009
WICS-ABC News Springfield, Springfield, Illinois, lincoln project, February 7, 2009